Fig. 5

Cytotoxicity, combination index (CI) and caspas-3 expression studies in living cells. CCK-8 assay of free paclitaxel (−), PMP (+), TB@PM (+), and TB@PMP (+) (white light, 100 mW cm⁻², 10 min) in HeLa cells after incubation for 48 h. The PMP (+) and TB @PM (+) groups showed significant differences compared to the TB @PMP (+) group: ***p < 0.001. b–d The inhibition ratios of PMP, TB@PM, and TB@PMP micelles treated cells upon light irradiation (white light, 100 mW cm⁻², 10 min), respectively. The red bar denotes the additional cell inhibition ratio gained when TB@PMP micelles upon light irradiation are combined, compared with the sum of PMP, TB@PM micelles upon light irradiation. e Combination index (CI) plots TB@PMP (+) (white light, 100 mW cm⁻², 10 min) treated HeLa cells at different cell viability from 20 to 80%. f Expressions of caspase-3 in HeLa cells treated with PMP (−), TB@PMP (−), TB@PMP (+), TB@PM (−), and TB@PMP (+) (white light, 100 mW cm⁻², 10 min). And the full blot images are shown in Supplementary Figures 14B and C